Football Rumours Archive February 13 2008

Arsenal F. c. – The Gunners have been eyeing up some of the biggest talents in the Balkans. They have scouted Croatian pair Ognjen Vukojevic and Mario Mandzukic. Also scouted has been young Bosnian starlet Mirlem Pjanic.

Jimmy Briand will be joining Arsenal in the Summer. A fee has already been agreed and there are reports that he has looked around the Emirates.

Liverpool want Armando Traore, Giannluca Zambrotta, David Bentley, Charles N'Zogbia and Kenwyne Jones. And dependant on Xabi Alonso moving to Spain, more activity may happen. All the arrivals above will cost just under what Torres alone cost. There will be outs, Aurelio, Riise, Pennant, Leto, Kewell and Voronin to name a few. Rafa is interested in a player + cash deal for McGeady if Voronin would accept life in the Scottish Premier League (w Champions League Footy.)

Rafa Benitez will be looking to bring in fresh UK talent and is looking at these players:

Bentley or J. Cole (Would play RM and replace Pennant)

Keane or C. Cole (Both good link–up players and would replace Crouch)

O'Hara or Barry (Both would be used as LM or back–up CMs + Barry and Gerrard have good chemistry)

Upson or S. Taylor (Both impressing for their clubs and would replace Carragher who is getting out of form)

I'm good friends with one of the Aberdeen first team players (sorry cannot name the source as he will murder me.), but Coventry have made enquiries about the availability of Jimmy Calderwood and his backroom team.

Jimmy Calderwood is apparently very keen about a move, but Jimmy Nicholl (Aberdeen's assistant manager) is digging his heels in and wants to stay, while Sandy Clarke (current Aberdeen coach) is looking to get back into a managerial role with an unnamed Scottish first division team.

Aberdeen's director of football Willie Miller has agreed to enter into discussions, but is unwilling to release him from his contract until after the forthcoming games against Bayern Munich in the UEFA cup.

It has also been suggested that the manager's position may be offered to Jimmy Nicholl on a permanent basis. Also in the frame for the job are Motherwell's Mark McGhee, Kilmarnock's Jim Jeffries and Helsingborg's Stuart Baxter.

GeNZ, how can Man United be short in the right wing back position when they always play a back four, and therefore do not use wing backs?

Perhaps you mean full backs?

Lets try and at least sound like we know what we are talking about?

Tom Huddlestone to Everton in the Summer,

cheers

DJ Riggy

Big one for the Summer. Ryan Babel to Arsenal. friends and colleagues say I am mad. It's not got any solid foundations, But for some reason I am positive it will happen. First he told Ajax fans he would be an Arsenal player (but not this season) then claims it's a done deal. Then turns up in a Liverpool shirt. (what happened there? ) last night he was at the Emirates sat with Van Persie. I know they are mates and everything, but they were sat right with the other Arsenal players behind the dug out. I think something is going to happen. I have even put £10 on it.

To the people that keep going on about Henry to Liverpool do not kid urselves he's got a really bad bak, Wenger was apparently amazed he passed a medical at FC Barcelona, he is finished.benzema is off to the Arsenal also Quaresma is off to United to join Ronaldo.

Podolski to join Rangers on 12 month loan with a look to permanent deal depending Bayern get replacement in Summer

Inside information coming straight out of Celtic, Scott Brown to be sold to Arsenal for £9 million, The wee ginger monster to cut his loses since losing the dressing room.

Rangers to sign Luka Podolski from Bayern Munich on a season long loan in in the Summer with a view to a permanent deal.

American owners will not leave in the Summer but will sell large pecentage of shares to a major Russian billonare.

Rafa will be given a stay of exucution of 12 months where he must challenge for the Premiership and win at least one trophy and reach Champions League semi–finals.

Players Out:

Pennant (Wigan)

Crouch (Manchester City)

Voronin (Fiorentina)

Alonso (Valenica)

Kewell (bosman)

Itandje (loan)

Riise (Sevilla)

Hyypia (bosman)

Players In:

Butelle Goal Keeper (Valencia)

Zapater MF (Zaragoza)

Ujafulsi DF (Fiorentina)

Zaccardo DF (Palermo)

David Silva MF (Valencia

Gabriel Heinze DF (Madrid)

Goran Pandev FC (Lazio)

Fred FC (Lyon)

Arshavin (Zenit)

Kevin Doyle (Reading)

Possiblity of Clarence Seedorf to come to Celtic as season end.

Where is 51 n counting hiding

Defoe? Gattuso? etc. etc. to the Rangers Ha. Ha.

Ehh look at what you just said mate.No Chance of Seedorf to Celtic.Expect Gattuso in the Summer.52 and Counting.

Despite signing a 3 and a half year deal in January, Aberdeen boss Jimmy Calderwood and long term assistant Jimmy Nicholl could take the reins at struggling Coventry City once Aberdeen are eliminated from the UEFA cup at the hands of Bayern Munich. Calderwood has long fancied a crack at the English game and the prospect of having a transfer kitty to work with will prove too much of a temptation for the experienced and well respected duo.

Dowie was forced out of Coventry by the chairman who found out him and Flowers were in talks with Southampton, who will unveil him later this week.

Expect Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood to replace Dowie at the Sky Blues. Calderwood, considered a tactical genius by some, honed his managerial skills in Holland (where he nurtured the careers of Jaap Stam and Sami Hyypia to name but a few) and impressed Ranson with his excellent record at a small club with limited funds. This deal is likely to go through after the Dons UEFA cup game on Thursday.

To the Liverpool fan talking about there squad next season. have you forgotten about Babel?

Anyways, Arsenal rumours. Do not expect any big Summer signings, Richards will not come to Arsenal until Gallas has left as he wants guaranteed first team football. Also been hearing stuff about RVP leaving in the Summer, possibly to Lyon. Might be part of some exchange deal. IF. IF Rosisky leaves expect Wenger to move for Nasiri.

Liverpool news.

Rafa bentiez will be sacked and replaced by Jose Mourinho.

Jose will have a good clear out off the following players.

Outs

J. A Riise

Auerilio

Hyypia

Kewell

Pennant

Alonso: – (

Kuyt

vorinin

Crouch

Leto

Ins

Henry

Zambrotta (possible)

Bridge (possible)

swp

Eto'o/David Villa

Silva

Lahm

Jose Mourinho will accept the Liverpool job at then end of the season from DIC who will take over. They will make a huge offer– giving Hicks and Gillette an escape route with a profit of 60–mil each.

There first commitment will be to get the stadium under way.

Then with THEIR OWN MONEY, they will sign players for Mourinho will DIC trust with money. Mourinho will go for:

Ashley Cole (12 million)

Ashley Young (13 million)

Diego (15 million)

Eidur Gudjohnsen (3 million)

He will get rid of:

Fabio Aurelio (3 million)

Jermaine Pennant (7 million)

Andrey Voronin (free)

Dirk Kuyt (6 million)

Scott Carson (9 million)

Sebastian Leto (2 million)

Danny Guthrie (2 million)

Gk: Reina Itjande Martin

LB: Cole Riise Insua

CB: Carragher Agger Hyypia Skrtel Hobbs

RB: Arbeloa Finnan

CM: Gerrard Mascherano Diego Alonso Lucas

LAM: Babel Kewell

RAM: Benayoun Young

ST: Torres Crouch Gudjohnsen Nemeth

Mourinho also likes the look of Pachecho, Hobbs and Spearing especially. Expect Spearing to go out on loan but Hobbs will be part of the squad.

Riise, Kewell and Crouch will be kept for a bit, as Mourinho feels he can get the most out of each of them.

In the long term, Lucas will replace Gerrard but will have a more defensive role than Gerrard. However, Mourinho does not think he is ready for the Premiership just yet.